Options Trading News

Total option volume is robust again today with 6.4 million options traded so far, and puts are again at the forefront of the index and ETF action, optionMONSTER's data systems show.

The SPDR S&P 500 Fund (SPY) has 1 million options traded, with puts outpacing calls by nearly 2 to 1. The PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQ) is next up with 426,000, dominated by 344,000 puts.

The iShares Russell 2000 Fund (IWM) has 226,000 contracts changing hands, with a put/call ratio of better than 2 to 1. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) options have turned over 151,000 times, and puts outpace calls by almost 3 to1.

The SPDR Financial Fund (XLF) sees increase action again with 127,000 options and a put/call ratio of more than 2 to 1. The iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Fund (VXX) has 112,000 contracts traded, with 61,000 puts. And just behind, in a reversal of normal conditions, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is seeing 111,000 trade with puts outnumbering calls.

The iShares Silver Fund (SLV) has 87,000 contracts traded and the SPDR Gold Shares Fund (GLD) has 57,000, both with calls outpacing puts.